Toyota Tundra vs Ram 1500
Half-ton pickups · head to head, 2010–2027
The Toyota Tundra and Ram 1500 were both sold for 18 model years (2010–2027). Among the Tundra's own years, its best bet is 2021; years to avoid: 2022–2025; the newest year rated a good buy is 2021. Among the 1500's own years, no year clearly stands out as the best bet; no year to avoid; the newest year rated a good buy is 2024.
Toyota Tundra
Pickup · 2010–2027
- Best bet 2021
- Newest good buy 2021
- Avoid 2022–2025
Ram 1500
Pickup · 2010–2027
- Best bet no standout year
- Newest good buy 2024
- Avoid none
- Be careful 2013–2016, 2025
How to read this: each model's verdicts compare that model's own years with each other (serious owner complaints per car on the road against that model's usual year, using New York registrations). They are not a reliability ranking of one model against the other, so a good-buy Tundra year says nothing about whether it beats a 1500. (How we judge.)
Year by year, side by side
| Year | Toyota Tundra | Ram 1500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Not rated | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2026 | Not rated | TOO NEWOnly 1.1 years of owner reports | Side by side |
| 2025 | AVOIDSerious complaints 7.9× usual, mostly engine and power train | CAREFULSerious complaints 2.3× usual, mostly engine and collision avoidance | Side by side |
| 2024 | AVOIDSerious complaints 10.0× usual, mostly engine and power train | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.9× usual | Side by side |
| 2023 | AVOIDSerious complaints 10.7× usual, mostly engine and power train | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.9× usual | Side by side |
| 2022 | AVOIDSerious complaints 12.3× usual, mostly engine and power train | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.1× usual | Side by side |
| 2021 | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.2× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | Side by side |
| 2020 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.8× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | Side by side |
| 2019 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.9× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.2× usual | Side by side |
| 2018 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.8× usual | Side by side |
| 2017 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.5× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.9× usual | Side by side |
| 2016 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.3× usual, mostly steering and engine | Side by side |
| 2015 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.3× usual | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.5× usual, mostly steering and engine | Side by side |
| 2014 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.5× usual | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.3× usual, mostly steering and engine | Side by side |
| 2013 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.4× usual, mostly steering and engine | Side by side |
| 2012 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.9× usual | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2011 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.8× usual | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2010 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.8× usual | Not rated | Side by side |
Each chip rates that year against the same model's other years. Tap a chip for the year's details; "Side by side" compares both models that year, trim by trim.
Compare any year, trim by trim
2026: the newest shared year with full data, at a glance
Newer years (up to 2027) have thinner price and equipment data for one or both models, so this table uses 2026. Use "Compare any year" above for the others.
| 2026 Toyota Tundra | 2026 Ram 1500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict (vs the model's own years) | Not rated | TOO NEW |
| Starting price (MSRP range) | $41,260 to $80,800 base price by trim, 7 trims | $42,025 to $88,800 base price by trim, 10 trims |
| Engines and horsepower | 3.4L 6-cyl turbo, 358–389 hp 3.4L 6-cyl turbo hybrid, 358–389 hp | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo 3.6L 6-cyl, 305 hp 5.7L 8-cyl 6.2L 8-cyl supercharged |
| Fuel economy (EPA combined) | 19–22 mpg | 12–22 mpg |
| Seats | 5 | 5–6 |
| Third row | No | — |
| Cargo behind last row | — | — |
| Max towing | 12,000 lb | 11,610 lb |
| Bed length | 65.6 in | 67 in |
| NHTSA crash rating | 5 of 5 stars | 4–5 of 5 stars |
| Recalls · owner complaints (NHTSA) | 0 · 0 | 7 · 96 |
Sources: OpenSpec and the makers' equipment guides, NHTSA vPIC, EPA and NHTSA ratings. Cargo, towing and bed length rows appear when we have them. "—": not in our data. Compare every 2026 trim →
Key features: base trim vs top trim
| Tundra SR lowest price, $41,260 | Tundra Capstone highest price, $80,800 | 1500 Tradesman lowest price, $42,025 | 1500 Tungsten highest price, $88,800 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless Apple CarPlay | Standard | Standard | Optional | — |
| Adaptive cruise control | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Blind-spot warning | — | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Heated front seats | — | Standard | — | Standard |
| Ventilated front seats | — | Standard | — | Standard |
| Sunroof or moonroof | — | Standard | — | Standard |
| 360-degree camera | — | Standard | — | Standard |
| Remote start | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
"Standard" and "Optional" are for that trim as the 2026 data lists it (a package or option adds an "Optional" item); "—": not verified in our sources, never a guess. The cheapest and most expensive trim of each model; every trim is on the model's 2026 page (Tundra, 1500).
Known fixes and extended coverage
Toyota Tundra
24 manufacturer programs on file: 3 extended coverage, 21 repair programs.
- Extended coverage Region Email: Toyota is announcing a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend the warranty coverage for the outside door handles on certain 2008 ? 2015 model year Sequoia Vehicles and certain 2007 ? 2015 model year Tundra vehicles. (ZH3, 2010–2015 models)
- Extended coverage Dealer Email: Toyota is announcing a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend the warranty coverage for the outside door handles on certain 2008 ? 2015 model year Sequoia Vehicles and certain 2007 ? 2015 model year Tundra vehicles. (ZH3-Dealer, 2010–2015 models)
- Extended coverage On December 20, 2022, a settlement of claims for certain low pressure fuel pumps was approved by the federal court. The purpose of this Customer Support Program letter is to help clarify how to administer this coverage in accordance with… (23TE04, 2018–2020 models)
Ram 1500
12 manufacturer programs on file: 8 extended coverage, 4 repair programs.
- Extended coverage 3.0L Diesel Crankshaft Tone Wheel Loss of Signal - X94 Warranty Extension This bulletin involves replacing the crankshaft tone wheel. (14-007-21, 2014–2018 models)
- Extended coverage Back Glass Water Leak Warranty Extension XL1 The customer may experience one or more of the following: ● A cracked backlite frame Fig. 1 resulting in an interior water leak (crack is visible to the customer). ● Water leak from at top of… (23-042-24, 2019–2021 models)
- Extended coverage Back Glass Water Leak Warranty Extension XL1 The customer may experience one or more of the following: ? (2309823, 2019–2021 models)
- Extended coverage Water Leak at Center High Mounted Stop Lamp (CHMSL) Warranty Extension XG1 Customers may experience one or more of the following: ? (2307423, 2019–2021 models)
From manufacturer bulletins filed with NHTSA, counted per program. A count is how many programs exist, not how good or bad a model is: a maker that extends coverage is paying for a known problem. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
Which should you buy?
- Buying used, years both are rated a good buy: 2017–2021. In those years, choose on price, size and features.
- Shopping around 2024: the 1500 is rated good buy (serious complaints 0.9× usual), while the Tundra is rated avoid (serious complaints 10.0× usual, mostly engine and power train). Each against its own other years.
- Shopping around 2023: the 1500 is rated good buy (serious complaints 0.9× usual), while the Tundra is rated avoid (serious complaints 10.7× usual, mostly engine and power train). Each against its own other years.
- Shopping around 2022: the 1500 is rated good buy (serious complaints 1.1× usual), while the Tundra is rated avoid (serious complaints 12.3× usual, mostly engine and power train). Each against its own other years.
- Years to skip: Tundra 2022–2025.
- Newest year rated a good buy: Tundra 2021; 1500 2024.
- Lower starting price in 2026: the Tundra, from $41,260 against $42,025. Prices are the maker's listed base prices, not what dealers charge.
- Towing: up to 12,000 lb for the Tundra in 2026, against 11,610 lb for the 1500.
- Before you buy either: run the VIN for open recalls and ask the dealer whether the extended-coverage repairs above were done.
Rules applied to the data on this page: no overall winner is declared, because our verdicts compare each model with itself.